Drones Collide, Fall From Sky in Florida Light Show, Seriously Injuring 7-Year-Old Boy (yahoo.com) 27
"Drones collided, fell from the sky and hit a little boy after 'technical difficulties' during a holiday show..." reports the Orlando Sentinel.
They note that a press release from the city said the 8 p.m. show was then cancelled: The company behind the drones, Sky Elements, was in its second year of the contract with the city, the release said. Sky Elements said they operate drone shows throughout the country with millions of viewers annually and are committed to maintaining FAA safety regulations, the company said in a statement released Sunday afternoon. The organization wished for a "speedy recovery" of those impacted by Saturday's show at Lake Eola, the statement said. "The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused," the statement said. "We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired."
The show is in its third year, often drawing crowds of roughly 25,000, according to the city. But there has never been an incident before. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates drones and light shows and permitted the Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola on Saturday. Now they are investigating the incident which they said began as drones collided and fell into the crowd at the park, spokesperson Kristen Alsop said in an email... Eyewitness videos on social media show multiple green and red drones falling from the sky.
The mother of the 7-year-old boy hit by a falling drone told a local TV station that the holiday show "ended in nightmares," adding that it happened just days before Christmas. She believes big-audience drone light shows need more safety precautions. "This should not happen. No family should be going through this." She added on Facebook that her 7-year-old son is now "going into emergency heart surgery off of just trying to watch a drone show."
She adds that the city of Orlando and the drone company behind the light show "really have some explaining to do." Responding to comments on Facebook, she posted two hours ago: "Thank you everyone. He is still in surgery."
They note that a press release from the city said the 8 p.m. show was then cancelled: The company behind the drones, Sky Elements, was in its second year of the contract with the city, the release said. Sky Elements said they operate drone shows throughout the country with millions of viewers annually and are committed to maintaining FAA safety regulations, the company said in a statement released Sunday afternoon. The organization wished for a "speedy recovery" of those impacted by Saturday's show at Lake Eola, the statement said. "The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused," the statement said. "We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired."
The show is in its third year, often drawing crowds of roughly 25,000, according to the city. But there has never been an incident before. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates drones and light shows and permitted the Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola on Saturday. Now they are investigating the incident which they said began as drones collided and fell into the crowd at the park, spokesperson Kristen Alsop said in an email... Eyewitness videos on social media show multiple green and red drones falling from the sky.
The mother of the 7-year-old boy hit by a falling drone told a local TV station that the holiday show "ended in nightmares," adding that it happened just days before Christmas. She believes big-audience drone light shows need more safety precautions. "This should not happen. No family should be going through this." She added on Facebook that her 7-year-old son is now "going into emergency heart surgery off of just trying to watch a drone show."
She adds that the city of Orlando and the drone company behind the light show "really have some explaining to do." Responding to comments on Facebook, she posted two hours ago: "Thank you everyone. He is still in surgery."
Still saver then aviation (Score:2)
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And fireworks also cause injuries and death. Because shells filled with explosive gunpowder are expected to be safe...
Fireworks are safer than drones for now, but that is just because they are a more mature tech. But this will be handled just like the occasional (and tragic) fireworks injury is handled.
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And fireworks also cause injuries and death.
The best solution is for everyone to stay home and watch simulated fireworks on their iPhones.
Anything else is too dangerous.
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The light show serves a useful purpose: the reward in theory is economic for the city and value for residents which encourages people to keep living in the area or visit there.. which is the only way it makes sense for them to be using their municipal taxes paid by residents to fund the show. Localities put effort into creating attractions which ultimately serve to bolster the local economy.
There also should in theory be no reason they can't operate a drone light show safety. They can start by observi
Re: Still saver then aviation (Score:2)
and Sky Elements can just go away with the victims (Score:1)
and Sky Elements can just go away with the victims left holding the bag for the doctor bills
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Why do you say that? They can obviously be sued for personal injury damages caused by the company's operation or their drones. Which should include not only the doctors bills but all the other damages related to pain and suffering as well as mental anguish, etc.
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The FAA is mostly concerned with airplanes/helicopters/etc. Their regulations are chiefly aimed at preventing drone operators from providing airborne hazards to manned aircraft.
You can still comply with FAA regs and screw up something in your drone swarm, resulting in an injury on the ground.
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I look forward to our President-elect privatizing airline security.
Nice troll.
Regarding the drone operators, future President Musk can't extort money from them, so they will be banned. Also, Christmas festivals.
Seems that it is still safer than fireworks. (Score:2)
This shouldn't be possible. (Score:3, Insightful)
Just like you fence off a large fireworks pit, you shouldn't have crowds collecting anywhere your drone show might have a drone crash.
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Florida dereg. Welcome to Donnville, 'Murica!
-5 Political
"Lake Eola" (Score:3)
Wait wait wait... Let me get this straight, because I know how we do things up here in WA, but no idea what the fuck they do down in FL.
You have a lake. YOU HAVE A LAKE.
You literally have a protected area which prevents people from walking (unless they're Jesus or some shit?)
And you DIDN'T use this for the show!?
Up here, we do barge based fireworks and light shows, or have protected areas (ex: one sports stadium has a light show where the drones are actually over the other stadium for both a staging area and safety area)
Drone shows require staging areas. So you already have protected space under the drones. WTF where people doing there !?
Re:"Lake Eola" (Score:4, Informative)
https://x.com/MosquitoCoFL/sta... [x.com]
Apparently this is a video of the drone swarm undergoing partial failure. As you can see, they aren't necessarily flying over the water, though the geese certainly seemed agitated by drones hitting the shore.
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And you DIDN'T use this for the show!?
Australia used a lake: When the drones malfunctioned, many 'landed' on the water and sank.
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That's exactly the point. They hurt themselves, NOT people.
I'm not saying it's aliens, but (Score:1)
...it's XiPutin!
flying over the crowd? (Score:2)
Were these drones flying over people? My drone license is very clear about that, you don't intentionally fly above people.